Cigarette package



P 13, 1966 A. v. BRUNGARDT CIGARETTE PACKAGE Filed March 16, 1964 M F 0 F4 f w m O 0 0 Q Q \2 6 r 212 42 F/GZ INVENTOR. A. V. BR UNGARDT FIG. 5

United States Patent 3,272,320 CIGARETTE PACKAGE Arthur V. Brungardt, 3252 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebr. Filed Mar. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 352,079 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-41) This invention relates to cigarette packages and more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a cigarette package which can be gradually compressed as the contents become of lesser volume through use.

A common inconvenience for smokers is the way the tobacco falls out of cigarettes because they are free to jiggle around when loosely held in a partly empty package. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a package which can assume the size suitable for closely confining its contents with the size becoming smaller as the cigarettes are used up.

Yet another object is to provide a cigarette package which can be uniformly compressed neatly along fold lines in the manner of the folding of an accordion for avoiding irregular and unsightly crumpling that might otherwise occur.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a collapsible enclosure of this invention shown as it would be seen when laid out in substantially planar form before being folded into its final shape.

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the enclosure of FIGURE 1 as it would be seen from the lower end thereof as it is drawn.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section of an upstanding enclosure of the invention, the enclosure being shown in its original shape before collapsing.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing an enclosure in a position of partial collapse.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the cigarette package of this invention as seen partially from the top and rear sides thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a box-like collapsible enclosure is there shown at as it would be seen in its planar form before being folded into box-like shape.

The same enclosure 10 is shown in FIGURE 3 in its box-like shape and is seen from the outside in FIG- URE 5.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 5, it will be seen that the box-like enclosure 10 has spaced normally parallel front and rear panels 16 and 18 which are spaced apart by two side panels 20 and 22. The side panels 20 and 22 are preferably spaced apart a much greater distance than are the front and rear panels 16 and 18 to form the conventional shape of a cigarette package which is of oblong rectangular shape in cross section.

Suitable means is provided for interconnecting adjacent ones of the panels and this means preferably comprises simply the matter of having all panels made from the same single sheet of material whereby all panels are integral, as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The rear panel 18 will have two lapping end portions 30 and 32 of the sheet of material shown in FIGURE 1, the sheet 12 of FIGURE 1 having the portions 30 and 32 on the left and right hand sides thereof respectively, as shown.

The sheet 12 or enclosure member 10, whichever it is called, is provided with spaced vertical stiffening port'ons which are disposed in two groups, a first group conprising major stiffening portions including side panels 20 and 22 and forward central portion and rearward central portion panels 40 and 42. The latter two panels are disposed respectively in the center of the forward and rearward walls between the side panels 20 and 22 when the enclosure is in the box-like form as seen in FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that in between the major stiffening portions there are minor stiffening portions 60, each of which are separated by a vertical groove 62. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the major stiffening portions 20, 22, 40, and 42 are rectangular in shape and are disposed inwardly from the longer edges and 82 of the rectangular sheet of material 12 which leaves edge areas and 92 extending along the edges 80 and 82 which latter form the top and bottom of the box-like enclosure when it is in its finished form in FIGURE 3 This is accomplished by first folding the sheet 12 into the annular shape shown in FIGURE 3, then folding the ends in at top and bottom to form a top end 92 and a bottom end 90, as best seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, these foldings being accomplished in any conventional way.

Suitable bonding material can be placed between the over-lapped portions 30 and 32, if desired, in order to seal the package.

When the package is completed as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5 and filled with cigarettes, it will be found that the major and minor stiffening portions will tend to confine bending of the vertical enclosure to areas disposed between the stiffening portions, or in other words, along the various grooves 62.

It is significant to note that the sheet 12 has certain of its grooves 62 lying vertically along the edges of the major stiffening portions 20, 22, 40 and 42 to facilitate bending at these points. The side panels 20 and 22 each define one stiffening portion of a width extending completely across the side panels causing each of the side panels to tend to hold planar shape more so than it would if it were of lesser thickness.

The central stiffening portions 40 and 42 tend to provide fiat areas to receive advertising on the outer side thereof, although advertising can be done all around the outer side of the package, the advertising in the major stiffening portions, however, being largely unaffected by folding.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, a collapsing results in bending along the groove lines 62 to provide an orderly, accordion-like bending.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the sheet 12 is preferably formed of a single piece of material, 'which however, is thicker in certain areas as described.

If desired special horizontal grooves can be employed for defining top and bottom ends of the rectangular major stiffening portions to facilitate bending into box-like shape.

It will be seen that the sheet 12 can be made of alumnum, which latter can be anodized on its outer side in order to permit it to be imprinted with paint, special inks, type, or chemicals, in order that its exterior can have a conventional appearance.

If desired, the package shown herein can be enclosed in other containers such as a cellophane wrapper, a carton, etc., as is conventional. If a cellophane wrapper is used, it would preferably be removed before collapsing of the package as the package should be so composed that there are no elements interfering with the collapsing. The material used 'for the sheet 12 should be malleable rather than resilient so that it tends to hold its collapsed shape,

and its relative strength should be such that it can be easily collapsed between the fingers of a users hand.

As thus described, it is believed that this invention fulfills'the objectives above set forth.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a cigarette package constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention can be changed and modified without departing from the principles and sprit thereof, and for this reason, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible cigarette package: a box-like collapsible enclosure comprising spaced normally parallel front and rear panels, two spaced side panels, and means connecting adjacent ones of said front, rear and side panels to form an annular enclosure wall, the said enclosure wall having spaced vertical rectangular stiffening 4 portions of greater stiffness than portions of said enclosure wall disposed between said stiffening portions whereby said stiffening portions tend to confine bending of said enclosure 'wall to areas disposed between said stiffening portions for neat and orderly folding, means for at least approximately closing the top and bottom areas between said panels.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said side panels each define one stiffening portion of a width extending completely across said side panels for causing said side panels to tend to hold planar shapes more so than they would if they were of lesser thickness.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said front and rear panels each has a central portion which latter each defines one of said stiffening portions.

4. The combination of claim 1 in which said enclosure is substantially formed of a single piece of material.

No references cited.

LOUIS G, MANCENE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COLLAPSIBLE CIGARETTE PACKAGE: A BOX-LIKE COLLAPSIBLE ENCLOSURE COMPRISING SPACED NORMALLY PARALLEL FRONT AND REAR PANELS, TWO SPACED SIDE PANELS, AND MEANS CONNECTING ADJACENT ONES OF SAID FRONT, REAR AND SIDE PANELS TO FORM AN ANNULAR ENCLOSURE WALL, THE SAID ENCLOSURE WALL HAVING SPACED VERTICAL RECTANGULAR STIFFENING PORTIONS OF GREATER STIFFNESS THAN PORTIONS OF SAID ENCLOSURE WALL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID STIFFENING PORTIONS WHEREBY SAID STIFFENING PORTIONS TEND TO CONFINE BENDING OF SAID ENCLOSURE WALL TO AREAS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID STIFFENING 